Tasha lay face down on the bed, crying into her pillow, a mix of grievance and heartbreak. Eben knocked and entered her room.
"Tasha, don't cry," Eben said softly, his heart aching.
"Why does Leo like her so much? Why? I just don't get it!" Tasha threw off the blanket, her face flushed with anger as she demanded.
Eben knew his daughter had been sheltered from hardship since childhood, especially after her mother's passing. He had doted on her endlessly, granting her every wish and treating her like a princess.
The more pampered a child is, the less they can handle setbacks. Tasha, shattered by this blow, had her emotions collapse instantly.
"You need to accept reality. You saw at lunch how considerate Leo is toward Sunny. There's no room for you there," Eben said, not wanting to dishearten her but hoping she'd face the truth and not dwell on it.
"I won't accept it! Dad, I love Leo, badly! You have no idea how much I adore him!" Tasha felt as if a piece of her heart had been torn out, her eyes bloodshot.
"Even if you do, it's of no use. Can you really steal him away?" Eben maintained his principled stance.
"Steal? So what? I'm not afraid!" Tasha, recalling how she often snatched things from Sunny in the past, saw no issue with doing it again.
"Don't be reckless! Leo is the second son of the Royal Pack, a man of high status. Don't meddle and provoke him." Eben hastily advised.
But Tasha, blinded by jealousy, wouldn't listen.
Leo and Sunny both breathed a sigh of relief.
"To be honest, the atmosphere in that family is suffocating. And you've lived there for so long," Leo said, increasingly empathetic toward Sunny as he learned more about her upbringing.
"Anyway, I moved out years ago and only rarely come back," Sunny said with a wry smile.
"Have your mother join us for meals in the future. There's no need to come here anymore," Leo decided firmly.
"I was thinking the same thing," Sunny agreed, recalling the awkward atmosphere and feeling uneasy.
"Is Tasha a hopeless fan girl? She stared at me the entire time. I don't want to see her anymore," Leo suddenly remarked, unable to resist venting.
"She did say she liked you before. Of course, she can't help but look," Sunny laughed.
"Why aren't you jealous? You could at least act like my girlfriend," Leo teased, noticing Sunny was too focused on eating to react.
Sunny shrugged. "How should I act? Should I point at her and warn her not to look at you?"
Leo chuckled and tousled her hair. "I knew you wouldn't. By the way, I've noticed something—you and your mom don't look alike at all."
Sunny blinked. "I think we do resemble each other."
"Where? I can't see it," Leo said, shaking his head in disbelief.
"Our... hair. My mom has thick hair, and so do I," Sunny said, finally finding a common trait.
Leo rolled his eyes. "My hair's thick too. Does that mean we're related?"
"Hey, I really am my mom's daughter. I wasn't adopted, you know," Sunny said, not wanting to delve into the topic.
"Alright, let's drop it. But I still think you take more after your dad," Leo insisted.
Sunny shook her head dejectedly. "Probably not. I don't see any likeness there either."
"Maybe you should get a DNA test? I think you might really be adopted," Leo joked.
"You're so boring! I'm not doing it! My mom is my mom!" Sunny laughed, her stance firm.
Leo dropped the topic.
On the first day of the Royal Pack's new marital life, Catherine woke up early.
"Catherine, are you and Blake considering a honeymoon?" Patricia asked with a smile.
Catherine shook her head and whispered, "We've talked it over and decided against it now. Blake's company is busy, and I plan to return to work."
"Alright, the decision is yours," Patricia nodded, satisfied that Catherine understood the importance of supporting Blake.
"The children are going back to school soon. I'll leave them to Abigail since I need to care for Emerson and can't leave," Patricia arranged.
"No problem," Abigail replied cheerfully, feeling blessed to dote on her grandchildren.
"Thanks… Mom," Catherine offered a nervous smile.
Blake arrived at the company at 9:30 and spotted Emily in the lobby.
Why was she here?
His expression shifted slightly, but he approached her directly. "What brings you here?"
Due to Richard's antics, Blake harbored distrust toward Emily. Her presence in the lobby warranted suspicion.
Emily offered a faint smile, her eyes tinged with sincerity.
Sincerity in facial expressions often disarms others.
Blake's guard dropped momentarily. He couldn't quite pinpoint why she seemed different since returning to the country.
Perhaps it was her attire—she now favored gray and black over her usual pastels.
"Blake, relax. I'm not here to cause trouble or reminisce. Can you stop looking at me like that?" Emily said, her heart aching under his scrutiny.
"What do you want then?" Blake arched a brow, still wary.